Chapter 26

Outside the small shop, people were shouting and horses were neighing, weapons clashed, and someone was yelling at the top of their lungs, "The Mongols are causing trouble, the Mongols are making a commotion, run quickly!"

Zhang Ke heard everything clearly, and he was in great distress. These people outside were like harbingers of death! It had been so hard to make the Mongols happily accept the silver, and just when he thought they could escape, these people had ruined everything.

Moreover, these Mongols, like frightened beasts, became even more frenzied, their eyes red with rage, as if they wanted to devour them alive.

Some were even rubbing their hands together, "Warriors, kill these Han dogs as an offering, and follow me to fight our way out!"

The large man, Shisan, glared at the Mongols, his joints cracking, and said to the middle-aged man behind him, "Sir Hong, I'm useless, I can't protect you anymore!"

The middle-aged man shook his head and smiled bitterly, "There's a place for life and a place for death. I've involved you, Shisan. If you can break out, do so and tell my godfather to kill all these troublemakers!"

As these two were saying their farewells, Zhang Ke was not willing to die in confusion. His mind was racing, and suddenly he burst out laughing, tears streaming down his face.

The tense crowd was startled by the laughter, and Qiao Fu tugged at Zhang Ke's sleeve, shouting in fear, "Brother Ke, are you crazy!"

Zhang Ke said cheerfully, "Of course I'm not crazy, I'm very clear-headed. With over a hundred people to sacrifice for us, I'm happy!"

Zhang Ke stared crazily at all the Mongols and taunted, "Come on, make your move. If you kill me now, the next moment the soldiers will kill you. Do you want to try?"

Zhang Ke's arrogant demeanor thoroughly enraged a young Mongol, who, holding a curved saber, walked over step by step.

"Brother Jida, let me kill him!"

But the Mongol leader suddenly held him back, "Suri, don't be hasty, I have something to say."

With these words, Zhang Ke felt a weight lift from his heart. He was most afraid that the Mongols would attack without thinking, which would be the end. As long as they could still talk, with his silver tongue, he had at least a fifty percent chance of finding a way out.

Jida, holding his saber, looked at Zhang Ke and sneered, "Boy, I didn't want to kill you, but blame the Han dogs outside for coming at the wrong time! Go see the King of Hell obediently!"

"Ha ha ha, you're Jida, right?" Zhang Ke suddenly asked for his name.

The Mongol giant nodded, "Boy, you can tell the King of Hell!"

Zhang Ke smiled bitterly, "Jida, I suddenly thought of something interesting. If we all die, wouldn't it be a great injustice?"

Zhang Ke pointed to the shopkeeper, who was lying limp, and smiled, "He clearly gave you silver, but you came to kill him and take his head. You, after a long journey and hard work, got fake silver and are now in danger of losing your lives. As for us, we were just customers here for a transaction, and we suffer an unjust fate. If I see the King of Hell, I won't know what to say, and if you return to the Eternal Sky, you'll probably feel wronged too!"

These words made the Mongols look at each other. Indeed, the situation was confusing, and who was to blame?

"Listen, Mongols, come out and surrender immediately, or I won't be polite!" the Ming army outside shouted, causing the Mongols to panic again.

Jida's face was grim, "Boy, you're right. Mongol warriors are not afraid of death, but we can't die unjustly. Surrender obediently, and I'll take you as hostages. If the Han dogs outside let us go, I promise not to kill you!"

At least the effort wasn't in vain. Zhang Ke looked back at the middle-aged man and Shisan.

"Friends, no matter how capable you are, you should endure this for now. I believe there's always a way out."

Shisan was still不服气, but the middle-aged man nodded slightly, "Let's do as the young man says."

A dozen Mongols rushed over and tied them up, along with the shopkeeper and a few assistants, making ten people in total, and took them outside.

Zhang Ke looked around and his heart sank. The area was teeming with soldiers. A small dispute had caused such a commotion, and Zhang Ke was in great distress. The bigger the commotion, the less chance they had of surviving in the eye of the storm!

In fact, Zhang Ke didn't know that the horse market wasn't usually so tense, but with the recent victories of the Jurchens, the entire Liaodong region was on high alert. A single spark could ignite a wildfire!

The first to arrive was Bai Guangshou, the defense commander of Guangning. He was in his early fifties, fat and large, with a booming voice. His three hundred soldiers surrounded the over a hundred Mongols.

Bai Guangshou, hand on his saber, looked at the Mongols with a cold smile.

"Mongols, this is Ming territory. You dare to cause trouble, do you think my saber isn't sharp enough?"

Jida sneered, "Han dog, don't try to scare us. Your merchants deceived Mongol warriors. See, we have ten hostages. Let us leave, or they all die!"

Bai Guangshou saw the bound Zhang Ke and his companions and suddenly burst out laughing, "You think ten hostages can threaten me? A hundred Mongols are enough to get me a promotion. Don't let any of them escape!"

This enraged Shisan, but the middle-aged man nudged him hard with his shoulder.

"Sir Hong!" Shisan's face was full of disbelief. At this point, why hide anything? Reveal your identity, and Bai Guangshou will let you go, and you'll live!

The middle-aged man shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with helplessness.

At this moment, Bai Guangshou suddenly drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed it at Zhang Ke.

"Ha ha ha, Mongols, you don't dare to kill, but I will!" Bai Guangshou laughed, "You won't die in vain, I'll avenge you!"

"Rubbish!"

Zhang Ke couldn't help but curse. Bai Guangshou had no good intentions, clearly using the Mongols' heads to get a promotion, and they would be collateral damage! These Ming officials were heartless, treating their own people worse than grass. Were their hearts black?

Just as Bai Guangshou was about to release the arrow, a warhorse suddenly charged in, startling the soldiers.

"Sir Bai, please stop!"

Bai Guangshou turned around to see a young man in his early twenties, wearing a white robe and holding a shiny sword, riding a thin, bony horse.

Bai Guangshou recognized him. The young man was named Yu Weiliang, whose father, Yu Zhixun, was a hereditary commander in Guangning. He had died a few years ago, and by right, Yu Weiliang should have inherited his position. However, Yu Zhixun was a clean official, and his family had no wealth and even owed money. Yu Weiliang couldn't afford to go to the capital to secure the position, so it was delayed.

However, Yu Weiliang was skilled in martial arts and had gathered a few poor soldiers, determined to serve the country.

Seeing him run out, Bai Guangshou was displeased and said angrily, "Nephew, I'm suppressing a rebellion, not a place for you to meddle. Get out of the way!"

"Humph, Bai Guangshou, can't you see? The Ming people are being held hostage. As a Ming general, you don't know how to save them. How shameful!"

"Humph, you haven't inherited your father's position yet, and you're already acting like a commander. Men, drive this troublemaker away! Follow me to kill the Mongols and earn merit!"

"You dare!"

Yu Weiliang brandished his sword, blocking Bai Guangshou.

Bai Guangshou suddenly laughed maniacally, "Yu Weiliang, if you dare to stop me from killing the Mongols, you're their accomplice. Men, arrest him! If he resists, execute him on the spot!"

Just then, more hoofbeats were heard from behind. Bai Guangshou and Yu Weiliang turned around to see a blue-robed official riding a horse, surrounded by guards. He was in his early thirties, with a neat mustache, high cheekbones, and sharp eyes.

He reined in his horse in front of the crowd.

Bai Guangshou bowed and said, "Sir Wang, I'm leading the troops against these rebellious Mongols. Don't worry, I'll kill them all!"

He then pointed at Yu Weiliang and said, "Sir Wang, this man is obstructing me. Please allow me to arrest him!"

Yu Weiliang's face turned red with anger, "Bai, the Mongols are holding so many people hostage, and you're so heartless and shameless!"

Sir Wang looked around and understood the situation. He walked to the front and said loudly, "Listen, I am Wang Huazhen, the deputy commander of Guangning. Release the Ming people and surrender peacefully, and I will handle it fairly. Otherwise, you will all die!"

Wang Huazhen!

Hearing this name, Zhang Ke's eyes lit up. After so long, he finally met a famous figure, even though he was a defeated general, he shouldn't be as inhumane as Bai Guangshou!

Zhang Ke suddenly shouted, "Sir Wang, it's all a misunderstanding. I'm willing to explain. Don't use force, or it will be too late to save lives!"

Wang Huazhen frowned at the shout.

Zhang Ke then said to Jida, "Warrior Jida, do you really want to fight a losing battle? I'm willing to explain and give everyone a chance to live!"

Jida's palms were sweating. With Wang Huazhen's arrival, the Ming army had grown to at least six or seven hundred, and their chances of survival were slim!

"Boy, if I let you go, what if you run?"

Zhang Ke said proudly, "My brothers are still in your hands. I'm not a heartless person!"

Jida's eyes darted around and finally nodded, "Boy, I'll trust you this time. Untie him!"

Suri was still reluctant but dared not disobey his brother's order and untied Zhang Ke.

Qiao Fu, next to Zhang Ke, looked hopeful, "Brother Ke, no more talk, our lives depend on you!"

Zhang Ke nodded, not rushing to leave. He went to the middle-aged man, bowed slightly, and said, "Sir, I'm bold to call you Mr. Hong. Don't worry, everything will be fine!"

Zhang Ke patted Mr. Hong's shoulder and walked confidently toward Wang Huazhen.

Wang Huazhen watched Zhang Ke, who was walking step by step, but one hand was covering his chest, and something was held between his fingers. Wang Huazhen was so startled he almost fell off his horse.

...

PS: First recommendation, please follow and vote, thank you!